Air heater and the like



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,688,147

M. LEYRON AIR HEATER AND THE LIKE Filed De c. 23; 1925 M ui. Levr n v E N T RJ Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE LEVRON,

0F IVRY, FRANCE.

AIR HEATER AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 23, 1925, Serial No. 77,262, and in France January 19, 1925.

Due to the prevailing high cost of fuels, attempts have been made within the last few years to manufacture air heaters and like apparatus offering a great economy due to the recovery of a portion of the heat of the gases discharged through the oiftake conduit or chimney, the air thus heated by the gases being employed for blast purposes under the furnace grate, whereby lower grades of fuel maybe utilized, or for the drying of any articles or for the elimination of steam or fumes.

But with the air heaters in current use, it is a very difficult matter to clean the apparatus by means of brushes, scrapers or with com-- pressed air, since the internal parts of the heaters will hinder. the insertion of the cleaning implements between the sheet iron members.

Furthermore, such apparatus are not fluidtight, and the gas thus becomes mixed with the air, thus rendering the air unfit for drying and heating purposes, or for the elimination of steam or fumes. The cost of such apparatus is'excessive and their manufacture is difficult, requiring a considerable amount of labour, and it is also a difficult matter to transport them and to set up the apparatus and to take them apart.

My invention relates to a constructional form of air heaters wherein the aforesaid drawbacks are eliminated. It consists essentially in assembling the sheet iron members of the heater by means of channelshaped members whose flanges have a dovetail cross section or comprise straight or inclined edges in such manner as to form a fluidtight joint, the flange of the channelshaped member which is in contact with one sheet iron member of the apparatus being pressed against the latter by another member having the proper cross section.

In the appended drawing which is given by way of example:

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically in elevation an air heater element according to the invention.

Fig. 22 is the corresponding cross section, the width of the conduits being exaggerated for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically in elevation an element of a modified heater, showing one of the numerous methods which can be employed for the circulation of the gas and the air.

Similarly to Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is the corresponding cross section of this latter modification.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the same.

Figs. 7 to 12 are views on a larger scale showing various types of channel-shaped members which may be employed according to the invention.

The heating element shown in Figs'l and 2 is divided for instance into three conduits or chambers a b c by the vertical sheet iron members 1, 2, 3, 4. The conduits aand c are open at the top and the gas is circulated in a vertical direction through the same; the conduit 7) is open at the right and left and the air is circulated in a horizontal direction therethrough.

According to the invention, the conduits a and c are laterally closed by channelshaped iron members whereby the said sheet iron members are held together at their vertical edges. In the example herein represented, I dispose, between the sheet iron members, suitable U-shaped iron pieces 5 (Figs. 8 and 7) whose flanges have a dovetail cross section, and the said pieces are assembled by means of other U-shaped iron pieces 6 whereof one flange has a dovetail section and the other a rectangular section, the latter flange being placed against the sheet; The parts are assembled in .a very simple manner by placing the outer U-shaped iron pieces 6 against the edges of the sheet iron members such as 1 and 2, and in sliding the inner Ushaped iron pieces into place in the lengthwise direction so that their flanges will be engaged between the sheet iron members and the flanges of the outer U-shaped iron pieces.

The conduit 7) is closed at the top and bottom in like manner by means of the horizontal channel-shaped iron pieces 5 and 6 (Fig. 2) which are fitted upon the upper and lower edges of the sheet iron members 2 and 3.

A suitable number of elements analogous to that above described can be placed together in order to form the heater, and the whole is strengthened by means of outer frames, not shown, which may consist of U-shaped iron members.

By reason of the cross section of the said channel-shaped iron pieces, the whole construction will be very substantial and it will be fluidtight in spite of any differences in the thickness of the sheet iron members. The channel-shaped iron members will maintain the sheet iron members at the proper distance apart, so that the resulting construc tion will be very rigid.

The apparatus can be constructed and assembled in a simple and rapid manner and without requiring skilled labour, and without riveting, soldering or the like.

In the heating ap )aratus shown in Figs. 4. to 6, the gas is circu ated vertically through the conduits d f it y, and the intermediate conduits e g z' are subdivided horizontally by a sheet iron loaflle member 7, so that the air will enter laterally into the said conduits and will rise in order to pass around the said bafile member, being then laterally discharged on the inletside. The said baflle member is supported by U-shaped irons or by like means, not shown. At the left hand side of the heater (Fig. 6) the sheet iron members 8 are all assembled by channel-shaped iron pieces, as above set forth, whereby the left hand side of the apparatus will be entirely closed.

I may employ (Fig. 8) channel-shaped iron members 9 whereof both flanges have the dovetail shape. On the right side, the gas conduits d f h are closed by channelshaped iron members as in the first-mentioned type. The conduits e g i at the top and bottom are closed in the same manner.

In all cases, the sheet iron members come into contact with the webpart of the channel-shaped iron pieces placed upon their edges, so as to obtain a still better fluidtightness of the apparatus.

Fig. 9 shows a channel-shaped iron member comprising a dovetail part at the middle andl two lateral rectangular flanges. In-

stead of employing channel-shaped iron members with dovetail flanges, I may employ members whose edges are bent at right angles at 10 (Figs. 10 and 11), or I may use channel-shaped members the flanges whereof comprise the straight parts 11 and inclined parts 12 (Fig. 12).

The invention is not limited to the shapes herein shown for the channel-shaped assembling members, these shapes being given solely by way of example. These members may have any desired thickness and may consist of plate iron bent into a suitable shape. Said members may also consist of rolled or drawn steel bars, or of any other suitable material.

My said invention is also applicable to all apparatus adapted for the circulation of fluids (hot water, steam, etc.) and which require an absolutely fluidtight construction.

Having now described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an air heater and like apparatus two walls spaced from each other and providing a circulation conduit between them, slidingly removable spacing channel-shaped members inserted longitudinally between the ed es of said walls, for closing the ends of sai conduit and having a restricted open section and slidingly removable clamping channelshaped members adapted to fit on the edges of said walls, each clamping member having a central portion affording a guiding dovetail outline and adapted to fit exactly in the corresponding spacing member, the edges of said walls being thus clamped between the flanges of said spacing members and the flanges of said clamping members. I

2. In an air heater and like apparatus, walls spaced from each other and providing circulation conduits between them, slidingly removable spacing channel-shaped members respectively inserted longitudinally between the edges of two successive walls, for 0105- outline preventing the parting of said spacing members away from said clamping members in the transverse direction.

In testimony .whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MAURICE LEVRON. 

